1,5,7-triazabicyclo [4.4.0]dec-1-ene (TBD), 7-methyl-TBD (MTBD) and the polymer-supported TBD (P-TBD): three efficient catalysts for the nitroaldol (Henry) reaction and for the addition of dialkyl phosphites to unsaturated systems

The 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene (TBD) and its 7-methyl derivative (MTBD) have been proven to be of great synthetic utility as catalysts in the nitroaldol (Henry) reaction and for the addition of dialkyl phosphites to a variety of carbonyl compounds. The catalysts were in many cases superior to the parent tetramethylguanidine (TMG). In general the reaction proceeds in a few minutes at 0 degrees C. The polymer-supported-TBD (P-TBD) was also proven to be an efficient promoter of the above cited nucleophilic additions. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.